Geale wants title defence in Tasmania

Newly-crowned IBF boxing world champion Daniel Geale wants to fulfil a teenage dream by making his first title defence in his home state of Tasmania before proving himself in the United States.

Geale, 30, returned to Australia on Tuesday after taking the middleweight title from Germany's Sebastian Sylvester in a split points decision in Neubrandenburg at the weekend.

Launceston-born and Sydney-based, Geale says his first defence will be in Australia and then he wanted to fight in the US.

"I think I said when I was about 16 I'd love to have my first title defence in Tasmania, we'll see how things go," he said.

"I've got to speak to my management about that and work out the best option, anywhere in Australia would be awesome.

"I've always said I've been prepared to go anywhere, so if we have to go over to the United States, that's the next big step for us.

"Depending on negotiations and everything, my second defence will hopefully be in the US. I'd love to get over there and cement my name out there.

"[I want to] defend the title here in Australia and then go over there and say 'here I am, who's next?'"

Geale did not have a specific first challenger in mind, though he revealed there was no shortage of candidates.

"There's a lot of great fighters out there, we know we had (Germany's WBA middleweight Super champion) Felix Sturm looking at us, he sort of threw out a bit of a challenge before I fought Sylvester," Geale said.

"There are plenty of options on the board, We've just got to sit down and work out what's best and it's also making a couple of dollars as well."

Geale did not rule out having an Australian for his first challenger.

Geale's only loss in 26 professional fights was to compatriot Anthony Mundine, the current fourth-ranked IBF middleweight contender.

When Mundine's name was raised at Geale's Sydney airport media conference, it was greeted with jeers and boos by supporters of the new champion.

"Listen to the crowd," was Geale's response when asked about the possibility of a rematch with Mundine.

Argentine star Sergio Martinez, widely regarded as a top three pound-for-pound fighter and the best middleweight in the world, is a potential opponent, though not for his next fight.